Agronomy...Agronomy CDE Revised 2019 Page 1 Agronomy Purpose The Agronomy CDE is designed to motivate students to learn about crop production and factors that influence the quality

Agronomy CDE Revised 2019 Page 1

Agronomy

Purpose

The Agronomy CDE is designed to motivate students to learn about crop production and

factors that influence the quality of seed and forage crops.

Objectives

Students participating in the Agronomy CDE should develop the following skills and

abilities:

I. To identify weeds and crops by the seed or plant parts.

II. To evaluate the quality of crop seed and hay samples for feeding, planting, or

processing for food.

III. To identify weeds as prohibited, noxious, or common, and length of life cycle.

IV. To develop an understanding of the biological principles underlying production

practices of major crops and of their handling for further marketing.


Crosswalk with Show-Me Standards

Objectives – Students participating in the Career

Development Event should be able to:

Show-Me Standards

Knowledge

Standards

(Content Areas)

Performance

Standards

(Goals)

1. To identify weeds and crops by the seed or plant

parts.

SC.3, SC.4, SC.8 3.1

4.4, 4.8 2. To evaluate the quality of crop seed and hay

samples for feeding, planting, or processing for

food.

3. To identify weeds as prohibited, noxious, or

common, and length of life cycle.

4. To develop an understanding of the biological

principles underlying production practices of

major crops and of their handling for further

marketing.

CORRESPONDING SECONDARY AGRICULTURE CURRICULUM

Course and/or

Curriculum:

Agricultural Science II

Advance Crop Science Unit(s): Crop Science, Plant Science

All Units


Event Format

The Agronomy CDE shall consist of the following three sections and seven components:

Section A. Identification – Two Hours

I. SEED IDENTIFICATION-- One Hour

A. Contestants will identify 50 crops & weeds by seed samples from the Plant

Identification List (Agronomy Reference 1).

B. The life cycle for each seed will be identified as Winter Annual, Summer Annual,

Biennial, or Perennial.

C. Wheat and corn types are identified and distinguished in the seed category only.

D. No more than one seed from any species.

II. PLANT IDENTIFICATION – One Hour

A. Contestants will identify 50 crops & weeds by plant samples from the Plant

Identification List (Agronomy Reference 1).

B. The life cycle for each plant will be identified as Winter Annual, Summer Annual,

Biennial, or Perennial.

C. Wheat and corn types are identified and distinguished in the seed category only.

D. No more than one plant from any species.

Section B. Judging and Disorders - One Hour

III. SEED JUDGING

1. Contestants will place one, four-sample class on its value as seed for marketing or

planting. Either wheat OR soybeans will be the crop utilized in seed judging.

Reasons will be given by checking the evaluation factors present in each sample.

Note: The CDE superintendent should place a minimum of 10 foreign seeds per

plate. Seeds used in seed plates MUST be listed on the List of Seeds by Category

for Seed Judging (Agronomy Reference 4) and should be realistic options .

Students should mark all factors present, regardless of number. All factors must be

clearly observable and ample in quantity. Student Copy 2 and 3 will be used for seed

judging. A 60-point scoring table will be used to score the students' placings of the

samples.)

NOTE: A given sample may contain a maximum of two prohibited and/or two

noxious and/or two common weed seeds.

2. The following will be considered judging factors in determining reasons for placing

samples:

a. Freedom from mixtures (other varieties and other crops)

b. Freedom from inert material. (Includes stems, dirt, chaff, etc.)

c. Freedom from weed seeds (prohibited, noxious, common - see revised weed

classifications, Part D under SUBJECT MATTER below)

d. Soundness (weathering, disease, immature seed, insect damage, sprouted

kernels, etc.)


3. Factor values for each crop are provided on the following pages. Using these values,

add the factor values for each sample as decided by sample condition. The sample

with the lowest total factor value is the best sample.

4. Eight defects/factors will be used in each four-sample class.

5. Only seeds found on the identification list may be used. See Agronomy Reference 4

for their classification as noxious, prohibited, common weeds or crops.

IV. HAY JUDGING

Hay judging will cover alfalfa only. A four-sample class will be judged on the basis

of final placing only. The student should be encouraged and taught to understand the

quality factors used in judging hay. The quality factor breakdown should include

leafiness (50%), color (25%), and foreign material (25%). These should be

considered by the student and taught by the advisor to arrive at the final placing.

V. PLANT DISORDERS PRACTICUM

Ten samples will be identified according to category, causal agent and damage location.

Refer to the Agronomic Disorders Practicum Scorecard (Student Copy 4) for the category, agent

and damage location lists. Note: A Causal Agent may be used more than once, but not as an

exact duplicate. Example: One soybean sample might exhibit anthracnose as a fungal agent;

another soybean sample might exhibit brown stem rot as a fungal agent.

Disorders

Category: Cultural Biological Environmental

Moisture

Causal Agent: Nutritional Fungus Frost

Chemical Nematodes Wind

Mechanical Virus Drought

Compaction Bacteria Hail

Insect Lightning

Pollution

Sun Scald

Heat

Parts of Plant Reproductive

Displayed: Vegetative

Vascular More Than One Area


VI. WRITTEN TEST

A. A 50 question objective type test covering well established production practices and

information contained in the references will be used. Hay analysis scenario questions

may be included in the written test. No more than 5 questions will come from the Current

Event Fact Sheet (Updated annually by the CDE Committee and Superintendent and

published on DESE CDE Handbook Website)

B. Biological principles underlying production practices of major crops will be emphasized

to include the following: variety selection, propagation, life of plant (annual, biennial,

and perennial), soil and climatic adaption, cultural practices affecting crop growth and

quality, disease resistance, insect relations, and principle uses. Problems on chemical

application and seeding rate may also be included.

C. Soil requirements and climatic adaptation and uses of miscellaneous crops will include

tobacco, rice, winter vetch, millet, sunflower, and crown vetch.

D. Questions over weeds will include classification, life of plant, propagation, and means of

control. Weeds to be covered are limited to the following from each class (Missouri

Plant Industries Seed Regulations 2 CSR 70-35.010 will be used as the official guide):

1. Prohibited *--Field bindweed, Johnsongrass, musk thistle.

2. Noxious ** --Black nightshade, buckhorn plantain, curly dock, giant foxtail,

hedge bindweed, red sorrel, wild garlic/wild onion.

3. Common--Barnyard grass, broomsedge, bull thistle, cheat/downy bromegrass,

chicory, climbing milkweed, cocklebur, common chickweed, common milkweed,

common (broadleaf) plantain, common purslane, common ragweed, , daisy

fleabane, dandelion, fall panicum, field pennycress, giant ragweed, goosegrass,

henbit, horse nettle, horseweed/marestail, ironweed, jimson weed, lambsquarter,

morning glory, oxeye daisy, Palmer Amaranth, Pennsylvania smartweed,

pigweed, pokeberry, prickly lettuce, prickly sida, Serecia lespedeza, shepherd's

purse, spotted knapweed, teaselvelvetleaf, wild carrot, wild mustard/yellow

rocket, yellow foxtail, Yellow nutsedge, water hemp.

VII. PROBLEM SOLVING

A. Two (2) problem solving questions will be completed by the contestants. Each

problem will have 10 questions valued at 5 points each for a total of 50 points. Problems will be

included as part of the written test and must be from the following categories:

1. Fertilizer Calculations

2. Chemical Tank Mix

3. Hay Analysis

4. Grain Pricing

**Note: See Agronomy Appendix A - Practicum Examples on DESE CDE Webpage


Event Scoring

Event Points Possible

1. Seed Identification 200 Points 1 hour

- 50 Crop & Weed Seed samples @ 3 points each

- Life cycle @ 1 pt each (see NOTE 1 below)

2. Plant

Identification

200 points 1 hour

- 50 Crop & Weed Plant samples @ 3 points each

- Life cycle @ 1 pt each (see NOTE 1 below)

3. Seed Judging 100 Points (see NOTE 2 below) 1 hour

- One class of either Wheat or Soybean Seed Judging and

Reasons

4. Hay Judging 50 Points

- One Class of Alfalfa Hay

5. Plant Disorders 50 Points

- Ten Disorders @ 5 points each

IV. Test 250 Points 1 hour

- 50 multiple choice questions @ 3 points each (150 pts)

- Two (2) problems @ 50 points each (100 pts)

TOTAL 850 Points 4 hours

NOTE 1: The life cycle for each plant and/or seed will be identified as Winter Annual, Summer

Annual, Biennial, or Perennial (1 point each). The scoring of the Agronomy CDE will be that

the crop plant or seed ID and the weed plant or seed ID MUST BE CORRECT in order to

receive points for the life cycle. Therefore if:

Sample identified correctly and life cycle correct = 4 points

Sample identified correctly and life cycle incorrect = 3 points

Sample identified incorrectly and life cycle correct = 0 points

NOTE 2: The seed judging class will be graded on the basis of 60 points for placings and 40

points for reasons. Eight defects/factors will be used in each four-sample class. Each

defect/factor marked correctly will be worth five points. If any of the eight factors are not

marked, five points will be deducted for each factor omitted. Two points will be deducted for

each factor marked that should not have been marked.

Event Rules and Regulations

1. Contestants are not allowed to communicate with other contestants during the event.

2. Contestants will not be allowed to handle plant or weed samples. Contestants may bring and

use a magnifying glass to view samples.

3. No instructor or student may obtain any plants, seeds, contaminants, or other materials from

the CDE superintendent, Weed Science Unit, or Bradford Research Farm after the last

district contest prior to state competition. (This includes workshops and district events

which may be presented throughout the state). Questions, which would result in a

competitive advantage for one or more schools, will not be answered prior to state

competition.


Test References

Advanced Crop Science (Instructor Packet 10-1002-I) (2000), University of Missouri,

Instructional Materials Laboratory, available http://dese.mo.gov/college-career-

readiness/career-education/agricultural-education/agricultural-education

Plant Science Unit (Instructor Packet 10-1005-I). University of Missouri, Instructional

Materials Laboratory, available http://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/career-

education/agricultural-education/agricultural-education

Preparing for the International Certified Crop Adviser Exam Manual. Available from

International Plant Nutrition Institute, http://www.ipni.net/

Practicum References

MU Guides on Forages:

Forages for Cattle: New Methods of Determining Energy Content and Evaluating

Heat Damage - G3150.

Understanding and Interpreting Feed Analysis Reports - G3160 (See Below)

Using NDF and ADF to Balance Diets - G3161

A guide to common forages and weeds of pastures M-169 Extension Publication

Purdue Extension

Corn and Soybean Field Guide

MX328: National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual, Units 12. (a.k.a. the

“White” book). Available at: DESE CDE Handbook Website https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/career-education/agricultural-education/cde-handbook

Weeds of the North Central States (1981). North Central Region Publication 281 and

Circular 772, Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana, IL, 303 pp.

Agronomy Appendix A - Practicum Examples - DESE CDE Website

National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual (MX328), Appendix C – Conversions

& Calculations AND pages 169-171 – Calculating Areas & Calculating Application

Rates.

Forms

See Plant Identification List (Agronomy Reference 1), Seed Wheat Judging Factors (Agronomy

Reference 2), Seed Soybeans Judging Factors (Agronomy Reference 3), List of Seeds by

Category for Seed Judging (Agronomy Reference 4), Plant Identification List (Student Copy 1),

Student Copy 2, Student Copy 3, Student Copy 4.


PLANT IDENTIFICATION LIST

The following list will serve as the official classification in regards to Winter Annual

(WA), Summer Annual (SA), Biennial (B), Perennial (P) for the Crop and Weed

Plants & Seeds used in the Agronomy CDE:

Agronomy Reference 1

00. Alfalfa P 33. Forage Turnip (plant) SA 67. Prickly lettuce SA

01. Barley WA 34. Giant foxtail SA 68. Prickly sida SA

02. Barnyard grass SA 35. Giant ragweed SA 69. Red clover P

03. Bermuda grass P 36. Grain sorghum SA 70. Red sorrel P

04. Big Bluestem P 37. Green Beans SA 71. Reed canary grass P

05. Birdsfoot trefoil P 38. Goose Grass SA 72. Rice SA

06. Black nightshade SA 39. Hairy vetch WA 73. Rye WA

07. Broomsedge P 40. Hard red winter wheat WA 74. Serecia Lespedeza P

08. Buckhorn plantain P 41. Hedge bindweed P 75. Shepherd’s purse WA

09. Buckwheat SA 42. Henbit WA 76. Smooth brome grass P

10. Bull thistle B 43. Horse nettle P 77. Soft red winter wheat WA

11. Cheat/Downy Bromegrass WA 44. Horseweed/marestail SA 78. Soybean SA

12. Chicory P 45. Indian grass P 79. Spotted Knapweed B

13. Climbing milkweed P 46. Ironweed P 80. Sunflower SA

14. Cocklebur SA 47. Jimson weed SA 81. Sweet clover B

15. Common chickweed WA 48. Johnson grass P 82. Sweet corn SA

16. Common lespedeza SA 49. Kentucky bluegrass P 83. Switch grass P

17. Common milkweed P 50. Korean lespedeza SA 84. Tall fescue P

18. Common plantain P 51. Lambsquarter SA 85. Teasel P

19. Common purslane SA 52. Large crabgrass SA 86. Tillage Radish (plant) SA

20. Common ragweed SA 53. Lohop clover WA 87. Timothy P

21. Corn (plant) SA 54. Morning glory SA 88. Tobacco SA

22. Cotton SA 55. Musk thistle B 89. Velvetleaf SA

23. Crown vetch P 56. Oats WA 90. Water Hemp (plant) SA

24. Crimson Clover SA 57. Orchard grass P 91. Watermelon (plant) SA

25. Cucumber (plant) SA 58. Oxeye daisy P 92. Wheat (plant) WA

26. Curly Dock P 59. Palmer Amaranth(plant)SA 93. White clover P

27. Daisy fleabane SA 60. Pearl millet SA 94. Wild carrot B

28. Dandelion P 61. Pennsylvania smartweed SA 95. Wild garlic/onion P

29. Eastern gamma grass P 62. Perennial Ryegrass P 96. Wild mustard/Yellow Rocket WA

30. Fall panicum SA 63. Pigweed SA 97. Yellow corn SA

31. Field bindweed P 64. Pokeberry P 98. Yellow foxtail SA

32. Field Pennycress WA 65. Popcorn SA 99. Yellow Nutsedge (plant) P

66. Potato (plant) SA


SEED WHEAT JUDGING FACTORS

(Values allotted to subheads will not necessarily equal the values of main headings. The main headings represent the maximum for the factors.)

Maximum Factor (Deduction) Deduction

MIXTURES ........................................................ .......... ............................... ...... 30

Other varieties of wheat .......................... .... (10) (durum, white wheat, etc.)

Other varieties of wheat within the .......... ...... (5) class (indicated by distinct differences in shape)

Other crops (rye 15, vetch 15, ................ ... (20) barley 10, oats 5, sunflower 5)

INERT MATERIAL............................................. .......... ............................... ........5

Includes stems, dirt, chaff, etc ................ ...... (5)

WEED SEED ..................................................... .......... ............................... ...... 40

Prohibited weeds* ................................... .... (40) Noxious weeds ....................................... .... (25) Common weeds** ................................... ...... (5)

SOUNDNESS ................................................... .......... ............................... ...... 25

Weathered or bleached .......................... .... (10) Sprouted ................................................. .... (10) Immature (shrunken kernel) ................... ...... (5) Disease (scab, smut, or blacktip) ............ .... (10) Mechanical damage (including heat damage) ...... (5) Insect damage ........................................ ...... (5)

__________

100

*Any sample containing a prohibited weed will automatically be placed at the bottom ofthe four- sample class regardless of total numerical value associated with the sample.** Serecia Lespedeza is classified as a common weed.



SEED SOYBEANS JUDGING FACTORS

(Values allotted to subheads will not necessarily equal the values of main headings. The main headings represent the maximum for the factors.)

Maximum Factor (Deduction) Deduction

MIXTURES ........................................................ .......... ............................... ...... 35

Other varieties ....................................... ............... (20) Other crops (corn, sorghum, sunflower, etc.) ......... (25)

INERT MATERIAL............................................. .......... ............................... ........5

Includes stems, dirt, chaff, etc ................ ................. (5)

WEED SEED ..................................................... .......... ............................... ...... 30

Prohibited weeds* ................................... ............... (30) Noxious weeds ....................................... ............... (20) Common weeds** (morning glory, cocklebur - 15) ......... (10)

SOUNDNESS ................................................... .......... ............................... ...... 30

Weathered .............................................. ................. (5) Immature (shrunken kernels) .................. ............... (10) Disease (purple spot, phomopsis, bleeding hilum) ... (5) Mechanical damage (including heat damage) .............. (10) Insect damage ........................................ ................. (5)

_______________

100

*Any sample containing a prohibited weed will automatically be placed at the bottom ofthe four- sample class regardless of total numerical value associated with the sample.** Serecia Lespedeza is classified as a common weed.



List of Seeds by Category for Seed Judging

Crops Prohibited Weeds Common WeedsAlfalfa Field bindweed Barnyard grassBarley Johnson grass BroomsedgeBermuda grass Musk thistle Bull thistleBig Bluestem Cheat/Downy Bromegrass

Birdsfoot trefoil ChicoryBuckwheat Climbing milkweedCommon lespedeza CockleburCorn (plant) Noxious Weeds Common chickweed

Cotton Black nightshade Common milkweedCrimson Clover Buckhorn plantain Common plantainCrown vetch Curly Dock Common purslaneCucumber (plant) Giant foxtail Common ragweedEastern gamma grass Hedge bindweed Daisy fleabaneForage Turnip Red sorrel DandelionGrain sorghum Wild garlic/onion Fall panicumGreen Beans Field PennycressHairy vetch Giant ragweedHard red winter wheat Goose GrassIndian grass HenbitKentucky bluegrass Horse NettleKorean lespedeza HorseweedMarestailLohop clover IronweedOats Jimson weedOrchard grass LambsquarterPearl millet Large CrabgrassPerennial Ryegrass Morning GloryPopcorn Oxeye daisyPotato (plant) Palmer AmaranthRed Clover Pennsylvania smartweed

Reed canary grass PigweedRice PokeberryRye Prickly lettuceSmooth brome grass Prickly sidaSoft red winter wheat Serecia LespedezaSoybean Shepherd’s purseSunflower Spotted KnapweedSweet clover TeaselSweet corn VelvetleafSwitch grass Water Hemp (plant)Tall fescue Wild carrotTillage Radish Wild mustard/Yellow Rocket

Timothy Yellow foxtailTobacco Yellow Nutsedge (plant)

Watermelon (plant)Wheat (plant)White cloverYellow corn



Plant Indentification List

00. Alfalfa

01. Barley

02. Barnyard grass

03. Bermuda grass

04. Big Bluestem

05. Birdsfoot trefoil

06. Black nightshade

07. Broomsedge

08. Buckhorn plantain

09. Buckwheat

10. Bull thistle

11. Cheat/Downy Bromegrass

12. Chicory

13. Climbing milkweed

14. Cocklebur

15. Common chickweed

16. Common lespedeza

17. Common milkweed

18. Common plantain

19. Common purslane

20. Common ragweed

21. Corn (plant)

22. Cotton

23. Crown vetch

24. Crimson Clover

25. Cucumber (plant)

26. Curly Dock

27. Daisy fleabane

28. Dandelion

29. Eastern gamma grass

30. Fall panicum

31. Field bindweed

32. Field Pennycress

33. Forage Turnip (plant)

34. Giant foxtail

35. Giant ragweed

36. Grain sorghum

37. Green Beans

38. Goose Grass

39. Hairy vetch

40. Hard red winter wheat

41. Hedge bindweed

42. Henbit

43. Horse nettle

44. Horseweed/marestail

45. Indian grass

46. Ironweed

47. Jimson weed

48. Johnson grass

49. Kentucky bluegrass

50. Korean lespedeza

51. Lambsquarter

52. Large crabgrass

53. Lohop clover

54. Morning glory

55. Musk thistle

56. Oats

57. Orchard grass

58. Oxeye daisy

59. Palmer Amaranth(plant)

60. Pearl millet

61. Pennsylvania smartweed

62. Perennial Ryegrass

63. Pigweed

64. Pokeberry

65. Popcorn

66. Potato (plant)

67. Prickly lettuce

68. Prickly sida

69. Red clover

70. Red sorrel

71. Reed canary grass

72. Rice

73. Rye

74. Serecia Lespedeza

75. Shepherd’s purse

76. Smooth brome grass

77. Soft red winter wheat

78. Soybean

79. Spotted Knapweed

80. Sunflower

81. Sweet clover

82. Sweet corn

83. Switch grass

84. Tall fescue

85. Teasel

86. Tillage Radish (plant)

87. Timothy

88. Tobacco

89. Velvetleaf

90. Water Hemp (plant)

91. Watermelon (plant)

92. Wheat (plant)

93. White clover

94. Wild carrot

95. Wild garlic/onion

96. Wild mustard/Yellow Rocket

97. Yellow corn

98. Yellow foxtail

99. Yellow Nutsedge (plant)

Student Copy 1


Seed Wheat Judging Estimating the Value of Planting Seed

Name: Contestant Number:

School: School Number:

FINAL PLACING ( FOR JUDGES USE ONLY)

1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH Placing Score

Reasons Score

FINAL SCORE

1 2 3 4 Judges

Negative Deductions

EVALUATION FACTORS

Place an X or blacken in boxes where you feel the 8 evaluation factors are found

Mixture Other Varieties

(maximum deduction - 30) Other Crops

Inert Material Chaff, dirt, etc.

(maximum deduction - 5)

Weed Seed Prohibited 1st

(maximum deduction - 40) 2nd

Noxious 1st

2nd

Common 1st

2nd

Soundness Weathered

(maximum deduction - 25) Sprouted

Immature

Disease

Mechanical Damage (including Heat) Damage)Insect Damage

Student Copy 2


Soybean Judging Estimating the Value of Planting Seed



FINAL PLACING ( FOR JUDGES USE ONLY)

1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH Placing Score

Reasons Score

FINAL SCORE

1 2 3 4

Judges Negative

Deductions

EVALUATION FACTORS

Place an X or blacken in boxes where you feel the 8 evaluation factors are found

Mixture Other Varieties (maximum deduction - 35)

Other Crops

Inert Material Chaff, dirt, etc. (maximum deduction - 5)

Weed Seed Prohibited 1st (maximum deduction - 30)

2nd

Noxious 1st

2nd

Common 1st

2nd

Soundness Weathered

(maximum deduction - 30) Immature

Disease

Mechanical Damage (including Heat Damage)

Insect Damage

Student Copy 3


AGRONOMIC DISORDERS PRACTICUM SCORECARD



Answer Possible Points Score Possible Answers

1. Causal Category: 2 Causal Category:

Agent: 2 A. Biological

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 B. Cultural

2. Causal Category: 2 C. Environmental

Agent: 2

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 Agents:

3. Causal Category: 2 01 Bacteria

Agent: 2 02 Chemical

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 03 Compaction

4. Causal Category: 2 04 Drought

Agent: 2 05 Frost Damage

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 06 Fungus

5. Causal Category: 2 07 Hail

Agent: 2 08 Heat

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 09 Insect

6. Causal Category: 2 10 Lightning

Agent: 2 11 Mechanical

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 12 Moisture

7. Causal Category: 2 13 Nematodes

Agent: 2 14 Nutritional

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 15 Pollution

8. Causal Category: 2 16 Sun scald

Agent: 2 17 Virus

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 18 Wind damage

9. Causal Category: 2

Agent: 2 Parts of Plant Displayed:

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 A. Reproductive parts

10. Causal Category: 2 B. Vegetative parts

Agent: 2 C. Vascular Bundles

Part of Plant Displayed: 1 D. More than one

Total Score 50

Student Copy 4

Documents

Agronomy...Agronomy CDE Revised 2019 Page 1 Agronomy Purpose The Agronomy CDE is designed to motivate students to learn about crop production and factors that influence the quality